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Alvirne grads ready to take the world by the horns

By John Collins, jcollins@lowellsun.com

Updated:
06/13/2014 08:28:34 AM EDT

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- In four years, Alvirne High School's Class of 2014 created a "masterpiece" of academic, technological and athletic prowess, infused with a tremendous amount of "Bronco Nation" school spirit, senior Class President Gurbir Kalsi said.

"Think about the person you were on Sept. 1, 2010, compared to the person you are now on June 12, 2014. Wow, what a difference four years has made," said Kalsi, who devoted much of his speech to the huge impact technology has made since birth on the class' collective learning and high-school experience.

"We are the generation of 'selfies,' procrastination, worrying about our Twitter-follower ratio, Chipotle, and -- for some reason I haven't figured out yet -- watching an obscene amount of cat videos on YouTube. We are techies. Digital leaders. It is how we discovered the world," said Kalsi.

"Seniors, in the past four years, 40 months, 174 weeks, 709 days, eight semesters and 16 quarters, we painted our masterpiece. And you all may be wondering what that masterpiece was: It was a bronco."

With that, Kalsi presented Principal Steve Beals on behalf of the Class of 2014 with a flag to be hung from the flagpole in front of the high school on Derry Road "to serve as a reminder of our discovery that we, and all other classes of Alvirne High School all embody the Alvirne spirit," Kalsi said.

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Kalsi's flag presentation received a lengthy ovation, one of many, including several standing ovations given during the two-hour ceremony to Class of 2014 Valedictorian Christina Guessferd.

Guessferd's achievements during her four years at the school academically, athletically and as a musician and singer drew accolades from faculty members who described the Emerson-bound Guessferd as a once-in-a-generation scholar.

On the Verizon Arena stage Thursday night, Alvirne High School Class of 2014 President Gurbir Kalsi presents Principal Steve Beals with a "Bronco Nation" flag to be flown outside the school on behalf and in memory of the 331 members of this year's graduating class. Sun /John Collins

Guessferd devoted her speech to encouraging her fellow grads to be true to who they are, learn to enjoy life's realest moments, and believe in their abilities to accomplish great things. She then serenaded the grads with the Taylor Swift song Never Grow Up, eliciting applause worthy of a Verizon Arena marquee performer.

Salutatorian Brittney Lambert, who is bound for Worcester Polytechnic Institute with plans to pursue a medical career, described her experience growing up the sixth child among a family of 10 siblings.

Lambert voiced heartfelt thanks to the many adults who have guided her and her fellow graduates in the right direction for 18 years, with her mother and father leading among them.

"I know I speak for all of the graduates when I say we could not have done this without the adults in our lives, guiding us in the right direction," said Lambert. "Their job is finally over, and we are the adults. It's our turn to make the decisions that will impact our lives forever. With this freedom also comes a great responsibility. As a class of 331 students the potential that we have sitting in this room right now is limitless."

One of the most emotional moments of the night occurred when Beals awarded an Alvirne High School diploma to his son, Ethan Beals, a diploma the principal also signed. Father and son came together before the Verizon stage into an especially powerful embrace.

"People have asked me if this will be an emotional night for me, and the answer to that is, yes," said Beals, addressing the audience earlier. "Family matters."

Ten Alvirne seniors who are entering the military after graduation also received a standing ovation after the Pledge of Allegiance, as the ceremony got under way.

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